Universal #1609

Legacy number: 1609

 Number  1605
 Original  Hierarchy of regressive nasalization:
N# > N[+continuant] > N[-continuant] > N[+syllabic].

If vowels are nasalized before a nasal followed by any element of the hierarchy, then they are also nasalized before all elements listed in the hierarchy above that element.
 Standardized  IF vowels are nasalized before nasals that are syllable-initial, THEN vowels are nasalized before a nasal followed by non-continuants.
IF vowels are nasalized before a nasal followed by non-continuants, THEN also before a nasal followed by continuants.
IF vowels are nasalized before a nasal followed by continuants, THEN vowels are nasalized when nasal is final.
 Formula  N# > N[+continuant] > N[-continuant] > N[+syllabic]
 Keywords  nasalization
 Domain  phonology
 Type  implicational hierarchy
 Status  achronic
 Quality  statistical
 Basis  languages mentioned in Schourup 1972
 Source  Schourup 1972: 542- 545, cited in Ferguson 1974: 12

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Discussion
Counterexamples
? Judeo-Spanish of Bucharest (Schourup 1972)
Notes
Ferguson mentions Bavarian German and possibly Tillamook as examples (1974: 12).
Comment
Frans Plank · 3 Aug 2006
Ferguson mentions Bavarian German and possibly Tillamook as examples (Ferguson 1974: 12).